Obituary of Betty May Young

Betty Young beloved wife of the late Loyal Leander Young passed away at the Agapé Hospice, in Calgary on November 19, 2008 at the age of 90 years. Dearly loved by her children and their spouses, Jim (Shirley McCormack), Helen (Larry Gilliand) and Dorothy (John Birmingham); and grandchildren, Richard (Melinda Cooke) and Cheryl (Kosta Panagiotopoulos); Betty had the joy of welcoming her first great-grandchild, Corbin Birmingham, this year. Betty was born in Nelson, BC on May 24, 1918, daughter of Nellie Emma Perkins (Oliver) and James Rathbone Edmondson, and sister to Gladys, Reginald and Beatrice Oliver. Betty excelled at school and remained a lifelong reader with wide interests and a keen sense of humour. After beginning study at the Vancouver School of Art, she switched to the Pitman Business School in order to help support her family. After their marriage in 1940, she and Loyal operated a store/gas/fish buying business at Bliss Landing, BC where she was postmistress during the 1940’s and 1950’s. Her office skills and organizational ability continued to stand her in good stead in later years as a medical stenographer in Powell River and Vancouver, and kept her in demand as secretary-treasure for political, church and other non-profit associations. Betty’s one great regret was losing her life’s partner at too early an age. Widowed at 60, she made the decision to not live among memories, and relocated to Cochrane, AB to be near to her grandchildren. In the town and in the Anglican Church she found many new friends, who are now cherished “old” friends (among whom the late Frank Burgess deserves special mention). Betty always loved to swim, and often re-united with friends and family from the BC coast on holidays at beaches, from Hawaii to Crete. In later years she lived at Big Hill Lodge, from which she was able to maintain her many and varied interests and activities. She will be sadly missed by many, whose lives she has touched. A Memorial Service will be held McINNIS & HOLLOWAY’S Cochrane Funeral Home (369 Railway Street, Cochrane, AB) on Saturday, November 29, 2008 at 2:00 p.m. Forward condolences through www.mcinnisandholloway.com. In lieu of flowers, if friends so desire, memorial tributes may be made directly to Plan Canada formerly, Foster Parent’s Plan, 95 St. Clair Avenue West, Suite 1001, Toronto, ON M4V 3B5, http://plancanada.ca, or Eyesight International, #2, 252 East 1st Street, North Vancouver, BC V7L 1B3, www.eyesightinternational.com/donation.htm or All Saint’s Anglican Church. PO Box 1043, Cochrane, AB T4C 1B1, Cochrane, AB Telephone: 403.932.6556. In living memory of Betty Young, a tree will be planted at Fish Creek Provincial Park by McINNIS & HOLLOWAY FUNERAL HOMES, Cochrane Funeral Home, 369 RAILWAY STREET, COCHRANE. Telephone: (403) 932-4740.